Dayton, OH -- The North Carolina A&T State University Aggies won the first game of March Madness 2013 as they survived a last-second scare from the Liberty Flames.

In the final moments of the game, A&T's Austin Witter forced a driving John Caleb Sanders into a layup attempt he couldn't finish, vaulting the Aggies (20-16) to their fifth straight win and into a Midwest Region second-round matchup with top-seeded Louisville Thursday in Lexington, KY.

The thrilling victory snapped an Aggie winless streak in the Big Dance. A&T was 0-9 in its previous tournament appearances.

Jeremy Underwood led the way for Coach Cy Alexander's squad with 19 points.